Stephen Morris tells the story of a young man who becomes a pilot during the early days of aviation. The novel follows Morris's journey as he learns to fly and becomes a successful pilot, but also experiences personal struggles and challenges. Along the way, Morris becomes involved in a romantic relationship with a woman named Cecily, but their relationship is threatened by Morris's commitment to his career and the dangers he faces as a pilot. The second part of the book, "Pilotage," focuses on Morris's experiences as a test pilot during World War II. He works on developing a new airplane design, and his experiences testing the plane lead to personal and professional challenges. The novel explores themes of ambition, love, sacrifice, and the risks associated with aviation. Ultimately, Morris must make difficult choices and sacrifices in pursuit of his passions and his beliefs.